Hail history for Richland County, MT

Richland County has 214 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 148 of them 1″ or larger and 10 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on July 16, 2005.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month June

Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026

Mark size = measured hail diameter; slivers are events with no recorded size. Amber ≥2″, red ≥2.75″ (baseball class). Denser recent decades partly reflect better reporting, not only more storms.

Recorded events 214 since 1956

1″ or larger 148 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 10 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · July 16, 2005

Read the record honestly: Storm Events contains what was reported to the National Weather Service. Sparse or rural counties under-report, and coverage improved sharply after the mid-1990s — a quiet-looking stretch is not proof nothing fell.

When it hails in Richland County

Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Richland County's peak: June.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 214 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 7, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 17, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar
July 30, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 8, 2021	1.75″	Golf ball
July 8, 2021	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 8, 2021	1.75″	Golf ball
July 8, 2021	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 10, 2021	1.5″	Ping-pong ball

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Richland County.

From the storm reports

Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).

August 7, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Public reported quarter size hail, strong winds, and heavy rain.

June 10, 2021 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Public reported, via facebook, hen egg size hail located along the lost highway near Sidney.

June 8, 2021 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Public reported hen egg size hail.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	8	2	0	46	57	84	15

The climb across decades is largely a reporting story: spotter networks, radar, and digital filing pulled far more storms into the record after the 1990s.

Questions about hail in Richland County

Has it ever hailed in Richland County?

Yes — 214 hail events have been recorded for Richland County, MT in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 148 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Richland County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Richland County, MT is August 7, 2025, with 1.0″ (quarter) hail. The database is currently updated through April 2026, so a storm from the last few weeks may not appear yet. To check a specific day, use the did-it-hail date lookup.

What is the largest hail ever recorded in Richland County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on July 16, 2005. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. See how big that really is on the actual-size hail chart.

Does a recorded hail event mean my roof was damaged?

No. This page reports storm records, not damage. Hail size and damage vary block by block within a county, and only an inspection can establish what happened to a specific roof. If you suspect damage, talk to your insurer or a licensed roofer — they can pull the same NOAA records for your claim.

More Montana hail history

All 56 Montana counties, ranked by recorded hail →

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, public domain, updated monthly by NCEI — this site's copy runs through April 2026. HailHistory reports records; it does not give insurance advice or assess damage.